Genomics Aotearoa

Wasps are forever? The potential to eliminate an invasive pest in New Zealand; permissions withstanding

Genomics Aotearoa • Dec 21, 2020

• environment and ecology,
• genomics,
• Genomics Aotearoa,
• predator free 2050,
• wasps

By Gemma McLaughlin, University of Otago PhD candidate Invasive social wasps have long plagued New Zealand’s beech forests and suburbs. Now, a  genetic technology holds the potential to stop such wasps in their tracks. But one major issue lurks: are scientists even allowed to explore this option? New Zealand summers are a great thing. We have our kiwi classics: … Read More

Changing stuff…

Genomics Aotearoa • Nov 25, 2020

• biological sciences,
• conservation,
• genomics,
• Predator-Free,
• science and society

By Professor Peter Dearden, Director Genomics Aotearoa Science is an excellent way of allowing us to question test and understand the world we live in. But that knowledge also provides us with something else; the ability to change things, to solve problems, and to make life on earth a bit better. This is clearly the case in … Read More

Indigenous perspectives on unrestricted access to genomic data

Genomics Aotearoa • Sep 23, 2020

• genomic data,
• genomics,
• Nature Review Genetics,
• The University of Waikato

By Genomics Aotearoa researcher Maui Hudson, University of Waikato It is vital that genomics research respects genomic data and genetic heritage from indigenous communities. Genomics research is a rapidly growing field of study, and there is a strong push to make the huge amount of data being produced open source for all researchers to use – the rational being … Read More

Tackling the hard issues – trust and relationships

Genomics Aotearoa • Sep 15, 2020

• engagement

By Claire Grant, Genomics Aotearoa Communications Manager Community consultation is becoming an increasingly important aspect of research programmes in New Zealand, and with that comes the art of relationship building. Engagement between scientists and user-groups is certainly nothing new. But as stakeholder involvement becomes more of a requirement for science, it becomes harder to define what constitutes effective consultation, and … Read More

Containers for reproducible bioinformatics research

Genomics Aotearoa • Aug 12, 2020

• bioinformatics,
• containers,
• datasets,
• Genomics Aotearoa,
• NeSi,
• reproducibility,
• Training

By Aleksandra Pawlik, Ngoni Faya, Joseph Guhlin, Megan Guidry, Tom Harrop, Dinindu Senanayake Rapid development of computational bioinformatics tools mean we can more easily push research boundaries. However, it comes at a cost. The complexity of the software chain that needs to be installed and configured to run advanced workflows results in researchers spending hours, if not days, trying … Read More

Data analysis skills are in hot demand – what should we be doing about it?

Genomics Aotearoa • Jul 29, 2020

• bioinformatics,
• biological sciences,
• data carpentries,
• data science,
• escience,
• genomics,
• mathematics

By Associate Professor Mik Black, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago The increased availability of complex biological data sets means that analysis and computation are becoming critically important skills for New Zealand’s future scientists. Because of this, we need to be doing everything we can to help our students develop these skills, to better prepare them for large-scale data analysis … Read More

Better understanding bacterial blooms in New Zealand waterways

Genomics Aotearoa • Jul 13, 2020

• bacteria,
• cyanobacteria,
• genomics,
• microorganisms,
• research,
• University of Auckland,
• Water quality

Dr Kim Handley, University of Auckland Just how do cyanobacteria live in their natural habitat, and how do they coexist with other bacteria and microbial life forms? And what difference will knowledge on this bacteria have on maintaining New Zealand’s water quality? One of the consequences of declining water quality is an increase in cyanobacteria – these are photosynthetic bacteria … Read More

Genomic breakthrough in invasive species management

Genomics Aotearoa • Apr 15, 2020

• genomics,
• Predator-Free,
• Rattus Rattus,
• ship rat,
• ship rat genome

Nick Kachel The ship rat, or black rat, is one of the most infamous invasive species in the world. They’re intelligent, adaptable, and they multiply like… well… ship rats. A native to the Indian sub-continent, this pest has now spread to every corner of the globe and is an outstanding carrier for multiple zoonotic diseases – those which can be … Read More

The importance of the humble blueberry

Genomics Aotearoa • Feb 26, 2020

• blueberries,
• cranberries,
• genomics,
• Plant & Food Research

Dr David Chagné New Zealand is involved in a US$12.8 million USDA grant to improve the quality of blueberry and cranberry. The four-year project, led by North Carolina State University, is part of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which funds multi-year, multi-institutional collaborative projects. Genomics Aotearoa and Plant and Food Research Ltd have … Read More

Finish what’s on your plate

Genomics Aotearoa • Nov 04, 2019

• DNA sequences,
• fungi,
• genomics

Murray Cox Do I have to finish my favourite genome? That’s an often-asked question. Geneticists generally strive to produce high-quality genomes that sequence every last gene, making full use of the state-of-the-art technologies coming on stream. Sequencing DNA means determining the order of the four chemical building blocks – called “bases” – that make up the DNA molecule. The sequence … Read More